On Fear

Today my mother shared a poem with me, “Fear” by Khalil Gibran. It resonated deeply in a way that I feel will resonate with many of us. I am inspired to share it here.

Last night in a full moon circle, a theme arose of embracing courage and trust in living as our most authentic selves. Another theme was opening to oneness, free from the suffering of our collective stories, living a neutral and nonjudgmental experience. In the poem this oneness is described as “becoming the ocean.” The river becomes the ocean with courage and trust.

Fear

by Khalil Gibran

It is said that before entering the sea
a river trembles with fear.

She looks back at the path she has traveled,
from the peaks of the mountains,
the long winding road crossing forests and villages.

And in front of her,
she sees an ocean so vast,
that to enter
there seems nothing more than to disappear forever.

But there is no other way.
The river can not go back.

Nobody can go back.
To go back is impossible in existence.

The river needs to take the risk
of entering the ocean
because only then will fear disappear,
because that's where the river will know
it's not about disappearing into the ocean,
but of becoming the ocean.

This poem is in the public domain.